We all know the work with an aquarium is never truly done. With that being said my recently set up South American blackwater themed tank is doing rather nicely. I have only to maintain it and eventually add a few more fish. This has freed me up to start planning my second aquarium.
The one when I was setting my current tank up was to set up a heavily planted Southeast Asian themed tank. That had been near the top of my list for a while. It is however losing out in favor of some other fish I have always wanted to own, namely fish native to the US. Some of these fish rival or even surpass tropicals when you see a male in breeding condition.
Two things have kept me from trying before though lack of both selection and information. I know the laws in my home state (Pennsylvania) and know which species I would be able to catch and keep. There are some good choices there, but it's still limited. I've also found 4 different online websites where natives can be bought. That's not even including what might turn up on aquabid. That definitely helps to open things up for me.
I already own two very good books on this subject, North American Native Fishes for the Home Aquarium and American Aquarium Fishes. The NANFA website is also of some help in regards to info. I don't know if it's worth buying the cd of back issues of American Current though from them as it's pricey. The one thing that might help me out is Peterson field guide (just searched now and it's really cheap on Amazon). That should help with the lack of information.
I'm really early in my planning, a long time from getting any fish but I have to admit that the more I dig, the more interested I become. That's why I'm throwing up this thread. Right now I'm trying to decide between two different biotopes, marsh and riffle. If anyone cares enough I'll get into the two biotopes and the fish I'm looking into for each one.
The one when I was setting my current tank up was to set up a heavily planted Southeast Asian themed tank. That had been near the top of my list for a while. It is however losing out in favor of some other fish I have always wanted to own, namely fish native to the US. Some of these fish rival or even surpass tropicals when you see a male in breeding condition.
Two things have kept me from trying before though lack of both selection and information. I know the laws in my home state (Pennsylvania) and know which species I would be able to catch and keep. There are some good choices there, but it's still limited. I've also found 4 different online websites where natives can be bought. That's not even including what might turn up on aquabid. That definitely helps to open things up for me.
I already own two very good books on this subject, North American Native Fishes for the Home Aquarium and American Aquarium Fishes. The NANFA website is also of some help in regards to info. I don't know if it's worth buying the cd of back issues of American Current though from them as it's pricey. The one thing that might help me out is Peterson field guide (just searched now and it's really cheap on Amazon). That should help with the lack of information.
I'm really early in my planning, a long time from getting any fish but I have to admit that the more I dig, the more interested I become. That's why I'm throwing up this thread. Right now I'm trying to decide between two different biotopes, marsh and riffle. If anyone cares enough I'll get into the two biotopes and the fish I'm looking into for each one.